No war on Iran! For regime change from below!

Make your voice heard against war and repression, urges Hands Off the People of Iran chair, Yassamine Mather

The war drums against Iran are beating ever louder. The new embargo on Iranian oil, to come into force on July 1, is only the latest in a long list of measures imposed by US and EU imperialism. It bans all new oil contracts with Iran, and cuts off all existing deals. Also, all of the Iranian central bank’s European assets are to be frozen.

We are told that the sanctions are designed to weaken the regime and “force Iran back to the negotiating table” over its nuclear programme. This is clearly nonsense:

In reality, the ‘nuclear danger’ is used by imperialism as an excuse to deal with an increasingly unstable situation in the Middle East. Imperialism has recently lost a number of friendly regimes in the region (like Egypt) and needs to reassert control in this oil-rich area. War is also a useful distraction from economic misery and the current crisis of capitalism.

Former International Atomic Energy Agency analyst Robert Kelly has debunked the latest report purporting to show that Iran is developing nuclear weapons. Of the three pieces of ‘evidence’ that are not out of date, two are entirely unverifiable, and one an obvious forgery (see http://hopoi.org/?p=1841). But the regime draws sustenance from these rumours: the threats against Iran help the theocracy to stay in power, neutralise the opposition and unite the people behind a regime under attack from imperialism.

The new sanctions will make it even more difficult for Iran, Opec’s second largest producer, to be paid in foreign currency for its oil exports (which were worth more than $100 billion in 2011). Previous rounds of EU and US sanctions targeting Iran’s financial system have already caused a shortage of foreign currency. A shortage of foreign currency means that Iran cannot import food at a time when food prices have already risen to astronomical levels. The Iranian rial has tumbled to a new low.

But the sanctions are unlikely to dramatically weaken the regime. The rich and powerful are able to protect themselves to a large degree from the effects. In fact, leaders of sanctioned regimes are almost always strengthened (and enriched) by sanctions.

However, the sanctions will mean even more misery for ordinary Iranians: many workers will not receive their wages in time (if at all) and even the BBC has warned that social security payments and the remaining food subsidies could be the first to be cut by a theocracy under financial pressure. This will only increase the hardship and miserable conditions that our brothers and sisters in Iran have had to endure for many years.
Further, the military provocations of US-led imperialism - assassinations, sabotage and preparatory military manoeuvres in the region - have also dramatically upped the tension in the country and are being used by the theocracy to increase repression.

As the examples of Iraq and Afghanistan prove beyond doubt, democracy can only come from below, from the people themselves. But a people driven to their knees by brutal sanctions are hardly in the position to overthrow dictatorship.

We know from history that sanctions are only the first step in wars being waged against ‘unfriendly’ regimes. A military attack against Iran is very much on the agenda. Should the regime really decide to close the Strait of Hormuz, this could happen sooner rather than later.

That is why it is so important that we side now with the people of Iran in their struggle against their own theocracy and the threats by imperialism!

Make your voice heard now! Send us a message in the form of an email, voice mail, short video or a photograph holding the poster pictured alongside (download from www.hopoi.org) and encourage your comrades and friends to do the same. We will post all messages on a special section on Hopi’s website and on YouTube, Facebook and other social media sites. Plans are also afoot for solidarity events, film screenings and fundraising events.

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I think the first thing to point out is that the embargo 'closes' the strait to vital Iranian commerce, and as such is an act of aggression on an IAEA compliant state, initiated by non-compliant nuclear armed Israel.

An Israeli spokesman has already said the intention is to provoke a 'Green revolution' and that 'its all about oil'.

But then Isroil is all about oilygarchic balkanisation into generalised apartheid/divisive conquest. For the fuel of the industrialised imperial Nato cartel, and its centuries-long war economics in the name of 'free trade', oxymoron of the age.

..over the last half century is any indication, MI5/6 are the local 'facts on the ground'.
These agencies are as jealous of their territorial turf as Kerry TDs.

They probably sub-let the petty stake-outs to the local plods. But interoperability is maintained for when the mutual interests are threatened. Birdibus fedderibus flocum togedderibus. In emergencies the Mossad pushes the amateurs aside for the wet work. They have the fast-track to the passport warehouse.

Does anyone here care about what's happening in Syria? Also, the actions of Russia to protect it's arms sales and port facilities at Tartus by vetoing UN resolution is disgraceful, does that bother anyone here?, we'd be having thundering denunciations if Israel or the US were shelling civilian areas in major cities, strangely not a word from the IAWM or other leftist groups?

from asking the same question Mr Freeman. The hypocracy of these "anti-war" and leftist keyboard commandos is stunning. Comment after comment on a war that hasn't even started in Iran and a strange silence over Syria.

Mr "freeman" (at the expense of others) and mr "culchie"
while you are both at it, can we have your comments about
(1)bahrain
(2)libya
(3)iraq
(4)afghanistan

and maybe something about one of the biggest importers of arms in the world, a major breeder of terrorism and wahaabi fundamentalism and the nationality of most of the 9/11 terrorists

i.e. SAUDIA ARABIA

sure russia sell arms but then again everybody who's anybody in the west does. But russia don't give away nuclear weapons by the hundred to nutcase religio/military governments like israel long after the cold war was over!!

Thanks for your 'words of wisdom' on ME politics! To address your points:

1) I think it's short-sighted and greedy of Britain and the US to be arming the Wahhabi fundamentalists in Saudi Arabia, and I know that 15 out of 19 hi-jackers were Saudis (although some elements who post here will probably claim that they were Israelis one of these days, maybe they already have?), it's a horrible regime there, no argument against that.

2) Foreign forces have left Iraq, but yes it was an illegal war pushed by the Bush administration neocons. Saddam is largely unmourned by the majority of Iraqis but that doesn't justify the initial invasion.

3) In Afghanistan, the initial intervention was a result of the taliban providing a safe haven for those same wahhabi-inspired AQ lads who carried out the 9/11 attacks among many others. The US and allied forces will probably withdraw within a few years and afghanistan can return to those delightful days of taliban rule of stoning women and murdering Hazaras.

4) Bahrain needs reform, the Sunni minority need to open up to full democracy and Saudi Arabia needs to butt out!

5) Libya, was intervention justified? Depends on who you ask? If you ask a Libyan from Benghazi or any other of the rebel areas you bet it was! Gaddafi wouldn't have been magnanimous to his enemies had he won. Personally, I've got reservations about it, is the replacement regime any better? I don't know.

Finally, having addressed all your 'concerns', we can get back to why Irish leftists and the IAWM remain eerily quiet about the massacres taking place in Syria, do they approve of shelling civilians as long as the Russians supply the shells?

13. Immediately on arriving in Homs, the Head of the Mission met with the Governor of the city, who explained that there had been an escalation in violence perpetrated by armed groups in the city. There had been instances of kidnapping and sabotage of Government and civilian facilities. Food was in short supply owing to the blockade imposed by armed groups, which were believed to include some 3000 individuals

14. The Mission visited the residential districts of Baba Amr, Karam Al-Zaytun, Al-Khalidiyya and Al-Ghuta without guards. It met with a number of opposition citizens who described the state of fear, blockade and acts of violence to which they had been subjected by Government forces. At a time of intense exchanges of gunfire among the sides, the Mission witnessed the effects of the destruction wrought on outlying districts. The Mission witnessed an intense exchange of gunfire between the Army and opposition in Baba Amr. It saw four military vehicles in surrounding areas, and therefore had to return to the Governorate headquarters. It was agreed with the Governor that five members of the Mission would remain in Homs until the following day to conduct field work and meet with the greatest possible number of citizens.

15. Immediately on returning from Homs, the Head of the Mission met with the Government and insisted that it withdraw military vehicles from the city, put an end to acts of violence, protect civilians, lift the blockade and provide food. He further called for the two sides to exchange the bodies of those killed.

16. At that meeting, the Syrian side agreed to withdraw all military presence from the city and residential areas except for three army vehicles that were not working and had been surrounded, and one that had been taken from the Army by armed groups. The Syrian side requested the Mission’s assistance to recover and remove those vehicles in exchange for the release of four individuals, the exchange of five bodies from each side, the entry of basic foods for families in the city, and the entry of sanitation vehicles to remove garbage. It was agreed at the end of the meeting that the Mission would conduct another visit to Homs on the following day in the company of General Hassan Sharif, the security coordinator for the Government side.

So we have

armed groups (probably armed, just like in Libya, by US/UK/Israel/Saudi) terrorizing the city of Homs..

Armed groups (probably armed, just like in Libya, by US/UK/Israel/Saudi) carring out Kidnappings and sabotage of government and civilian facilities.

A food blockade imposed by armed groups.

Armed groups (probably armed, just like in Libya, by US/UK/Israel/Saudi) waging gun battles with Syrian soldiers. We have the Syrian government agreeing to pull back military presence from the city EXCEPT for three army vehicles that were not working and one that had fallen into the hands of the armed fighters.

We also have the Syrian government requesting the assistance of the mission to enable the entry of basic food for the families into the city. Something which the armed groups (probably armed, just like in Libya, by US/UK/Israel/Saudi) seem to want to prevent

This indicates, at least to me, that for all intents and purposes Homs is occupied by armed fighters, (probably armed, just like in Libya, by US/UK/Israel/Saudi) who are holed up in the outer areas of the city and are terrorizing the civilian population. The Syrian army was present and attempting to rid the city of these terrorists.

What it also indicates to me, importantly, is that the Syrian government was cooperative with the Arab mission and attempted to resolve these difficult situations.

Let’s go to Page 4. of the Arab League Report:A) Monitoring and observation of the cessation of all violence by all sides in cities and residential areas

Violence by all sides- This definitely does not play into 'A Freemans' dishonest [unnecessary insult removed by moderator. again keep it civil ok?] simplistic black and white wording now does it? Nor does it jibe with the media version the western audience has been spoon fed.

Do you recall the French cameraman who was killed recently in Syria? The mission confirmed that he was killed by mortar fire from the US/UK/Israeli/Saudi armed gangs of suppossed Freedom fighters the West loves to insert into countries there are trying to wreck..

Pg. 60 # 44: “It should be noted that Mission reports from Homs indicate that the French journalist was killed by opposition mortar shells”

That was completely obvious, that the so-called freedom fighters (probably armed, just like in Libya, by US/UK/Israel) attacked the Arab League Monitors and the press travellijng with them - people like A Freeman don't want you to know that.which is why the story disappeared quite quickly.

Other then the very brief initial spin, the story fell off the media radar within pretty much a day. Two at the most. The most obvious reason for that? It would have drawn attention to the fact that the “peaceful protestors” are waging an armed terror campaign. Bought, paid for and supported fully by the West. Couldn’t have that awareness getting too wide spread.

Interesting to read of the difficulties the mission had, I won’t list them all, only the ones that pertain what were supposed to be unbiased observers and media reports..

VII. Obstacles encountered by the Mission

50. Some observers reneged on their duties and broke the oath they had taken. They made contact with officials from their countries and gave them exaggerated accounts of events. Those officials consequently developed a bleak and unfounded picture of the situation. (Likely the Saudi observers)

E. The media

68. Since it began its work, the Mission has been the target of a vicious media campaign. Some media outlets have published unfounded statements, which they attributed to the Head of the Mission. They have alsogrossly exaggerated events, thereby distorting the truth.

69. Such contrived reports have helped to increase tensions among the Syrian people and undermined the observers’ work. Some media organizations were exploited in order to defame the Mission and its Head and cause the Mission to fail.

It looks as if the mission had what can only be called spies in amongst the ranks, making the job more difficult then it already was.

When one reads through the report it is clear that Syria did attempt to meet the demands of the Arab mission. Under rather tough circumstances.

What is also very clear is that there is, and has been for some time now, a fully armed and entrenched group of western backed destabilizers and terrorizers in Syria. Which is why this report was not addressed at the UN.

Instead we have another resolution being tabled it the Security Council, with the Western nations the US, France and Britain looking for a way to start flying bombers over the beleaguered nation. Because their armed terrorist killers simply aren't getting the job done fast enough! Especially if Syria has to be taken down before an attack on Iran can be undertaken.

Once Syria falls, the racist warmongewrs in the US/UK/Israel feel that Iran is not far behind.

you conviently ignored the evidence that there is A food blockade imposed by armed groups.

The Syrian Gov't are the ones trying to ensure food supply to feed civilians, -

Also the report showed that, contrary to what is constantly being parroted by the Western media, and here by [unnecessary insult removed by moderator. again keep it civil ok?] like Freeman and Cultchie, the Syrian gov't was quite willing to work with the Moniotors to decrease the violence, while the Armed Groups were in fact the ones escalating the violence.

When a bunch of foreign-backed well-armed and well-funded Mercenaries start bombing things and attacking your civilian population without any provocation whatsoever, reacting with force against those mercenaries is the reaction any Gov't on the planet would engage in.

All the armed groups are run from outside Syrian. The Majority of the opposition groups are based in London, France and Turkey.

In fact one meeting in France suppossedly held by a "Syrian Opposition Group" had no [zero] Syrians on the podium while instead 3 or 4 well-known French Zionists (Bernhard Henri Levy fer instance) on stage pretending to care about the welfare of Syrian civilians -

[unnecessary insult removed by mod. stoppit ok?] Culchie no one but a fool or a liar would maintain that the foreign-backed Murder-Gangs/Armed groups are there to do anything but destroy Syrian society, mostly for the benefit of Israel and the US/Uk/Saudi axis of murder.

The Syrian people are not fools, they have seen what the UK/US/Israeli/Saudi Axis-of-Murder did in Libya and they don't want that to happen in Syria

Goldfarb of all people, an ardent Zionist and no friend of Syria, actually acted as spokesman, in Paris, of Change in Syria for Democracy.

The meeting’s goals of destabilizing security in Syria to serve Israel was made quite apparent by Kouchner’s statement, who said that there is a need for weakening Iran, Syria and Hezbollah, and resorted to provoking sectarianism by talking about majorities and minorities in Syria and “the need to protect Christians because they are the ones being killed the most” according to his claims.

Kouchner also called for turning international public opinion against Syria and resorting to the Security Council to find an excuse for a military strike against Syria.

Just as I thought, It would only take a few provocative posts to bring out of you what you really stand for.
As your posts get nastier you turn from anti-war, to anti some wars, to anti me and finally what you really mean - anti-Israel.
You [insult removed by mod] would be a lot more credible if you just came out and said so in the first place instead of the constant waffle and idiotic articles about a "war" in Iran.

I just followed the trail where it lead Culchie - If it had not lead right back to a bunch of French Zionist Racists then I could not have said it does, now could I?

(well, I suppose I could have said it were so without any evidence of it, if like you and freeman I were prepared to go out on t'Internet and spread a load of lies, but unlike you and Freeman I'm not very partial to telling lies.

If my following the trail back to where it goes. back to a bunch of proven liars like BHL and his Zionist Racist friends, bothers you, well that's just tough-titty Culchie -

Until you can prove that the so-called "Change in Syria for Democracy" is not just a Zionist Front-Group I guess you'll just have to stfu about it and accept that once again your Zionist racist pals are up to their neck in other peoples blood, . . . . . as usual

You simply whining about me having the temerity to point out that the Syrian Opposition (or much of it at least - the violent ones) appears to nothing but the usual Zionist interference in other peoples affairs, just makes you look like the [insult excised..sigh! -mod] troll you so very obviously are

when the spokesman, in Paris, of the French group called "Change in Syria for Democracy" turns out to be a guy called Alex Goldfarb who is a former Israeli Knesset member and assistant of Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak it's kinda ridiculous for [ahem!..mod] Culchie and Freeman to try and construct s false-moral-high-ground by attacking anyone pointing that out

[ahem!..mod] since your BFF Freeman was the one that brought up Syria in the first place, might as well get some facts out there regarding the usual US/UK/Zionist backing of the Murder-gangs currently ripping Syria apart, suppossedly in the name of 'Democracy'

On the one hand you say:"It's the self righteous hypocracy and double standards ye always spout that causes the belly laugh.

and then, ignoring everything in the Arab League reports regarding the Armed groups of Foreign-backed mercenaries attacking indiscriminately both the Army and civilians in Syria, you have the sheer unmitigated gall to say

Syrian government forces have actually bombared their own people and killed at least 100 over the last five days,

conveniently ignoring evidence from the Arab League that it is the Armed groups of Foreign-backed mercenaries that are escalating the violence,

The only info you might have regarding Syrian Gov't killing anyone comes the media which provably lied it's way through Libya recently, and which gets all it's info direct from the mouthpieces of representatives of these Armed groups of Foreign-backed mercenaries. These spokespersons for the mercenaries are not in Syria, they are in London or France or Turkey, and have already numerous times been proven to be lying. essentially the Media just slavishly report whatever the mouthpiecies of the Armed groups of Foreign-backed mercenaries tell them.

Here's just one example of the media lies regarding these massacres the Syrian Gov't are accused of, direct form one of the Arab League Observers named Ahmed Manaï :

Ahmed Manaï : This massacre is signed and its authors are making fun of our intelligence. Is it possible to believe for a moment, a government, whatever it is, could commit such a massacre on the day his case is brought before the Security Council?

In fact, this is a stunt as part of a comprehensive and concerted intervened where the “Syrian activists” abroad to fill the Syrian embassies and consulates, “referring to the call of Syrian ambassadors in Arab countries and of course the massacre of Homs.

While this massacre: those who followed the TV that day have seen pictures of many victims. Most of these victims had their hands tied behind their backs and some had their faces to the ground.

The directors told us that they were the victims of the bombing of buildings and houses by tanks and even by the Syrian Air Force. Curiously these victims were not wearing injuries nor any sign of the collapse of their houses and dwellings.

Each can draw the conclusions he wants. In any case throughout the 4th of February, Syrian citizens testified that they recognized among the victims, relatives and neighbors removed for a week and even months.
Each can draw the conclusions he wants."

These Armed groups of Foreign-backed mercenaries are even attempting to cut the civilians off from food supply, and it is the Syrian Gov't that are actually trying to make sure that the civilian populoation is doesn't starve.

And after being presented with clear evidence that, the french section of the so-called Syrian "Opposition", who these Armed groups of Foreign-backed mercenaries suppossedly represent, are CLEARLY nothing but a front-group for a bunch of racists Zioniosts lead by Bernard Henri Levi, you then go on to act all astounded that someone actually dared to say "Zionist interference in other peoples affairs"

as if the poor little Zionist are being somehow hard-done by due to the mere existance of such an accusation

Seriously Culchie, hypocrisy is your bread-and-butter. Accusing others of it, just highlights your own even more.

It clearly doesn't say what [insult excised..mod] Freeman, Culchie and racist Zionist fucktards like Bernard Henri Levi and Bernard Kouchner would like it to say.

for example it has ths to say about the behaviour of the Zionist-backed Armed Murder-Gangs in Homs (the place where Culchie, the hypocrite, would like you to believe that the Syrian Army are slaughtering everyone)

"In Homs, Idlib and Hama, the Observer Mission witnessed acts of violence being committed against Government forces and civilians that resulted in several deaths and injuries.

Examples of those acts include the bombing of a civilian bus, killing eight persons and injuring others, including women and children, and the bombing of a train carrying diesel oil. In another incident in Homs, a police bus was blown up, killing two police officers. A fuel pipeline and some small bridges were also bombed.

and this:

Recently, there have been incidents that could widen the gap and increase bitterness between the parties. These incidents can have grave consequences and lead to the loss of life and property. Such incidents include the bombing of buildings, trains carrying fuel, vehicles carrying diesel oil and explosions targeting the police, members of the media and fuel pipelines. Some of those attacks have been carried out by the FreeSyrian Army [the main opposition group] and some by other armed opposition groups.

The report condemns violence by both sides, but stresses that much [if not most] of the violence has been perpetrated by the so-called rebels, Zionist-backed Armed Murder-Gangs, against government forces:

In Homs and Dera‘a, the Mission observed armed groups committing acts of violence against Government forces, resulting in death and injury among their ranks. In certain situations, Government forces responded to attacks against their personnel with force.

The observers noted that some of the armed groups were using flares and armour-piercing projectiles.

Culchie would have you believe that the Zionist-backed Armed Murder-Gangs are some sort of 'true voice of the Syrian people', and that the Gov't forces should for some reason just not fire back when the Zionist-backed Armed Murder-Gangs start trying to murder them.

For some reason Culchie thinks the Army should do nothing and let the Zionist-backed Armed Murder-Gangs just walk right up and murder them.

Initially, the report noted general cooperation by the Syrian government:

The Mission [i.e. the Arab League investigative team] noted that the Government strived to help it succeed in its task and remove any barriers that might stand in its way. The Government also facilitated meetings with all parties. No restrictions were placed on the movement of the Mission and its ability to interview Syrian citizens, both those who opposed the Government and those loyal to it.

The report noted that the media has greatly exaggerated the amount of violence in Syria:

The Mission noted that many parties falsely reported that explosions or violence had occurred in several locations. When the observers went to those locations, they found that those reports were unfounded.

The Mission also noted that, according to its teams in the field, the media exaggerated the nature of the incidents and the number of persons killed in incidents and protests in certain towns.

but the likes of the hypocrite war-mongering [insult excised..mod] Culchie and Freeman don't want to know about any of that, not at all.

no no, Culchie wants just to accuse me of hypocrisy (and most others here too I suppose) for not rushing to condemn the Syrian gov't for incidents which, according to the Arab League Monitors report, probably never even occurred in the first place.

Cynically blaming Assad, America's responsible for thousands of Syrian deaths and atrocities. Its bloodstained hands are infamous. Its crimes of war and against humanity touch dozens of countries globally. Syria's now target one, then Iran.

Similar to what preceded America's 2003 Iraq war, Washington, Britain and France now call for a "coalition of the willing" against Assad. If formed, expect Turkey, other rogue NATO partners, regional despots, and Israel (at least covertly) to be included.

Lendman is part of the Fascist Left. He is correct (in a shallow way correct but nevertheless correct) in how he characterises NATO and the US in their alliance with Turkey.

But he is also a liar. The alliance of NATO led by Obama and Rice is clearly with Sharia (as a basic means of dictatorial, rule over impoverished millions)

He is also a liar on the issue of the relation between NATO and Iran. NATO worked closely with Iran in the war against the Serbs on the side of the extreme Islamist Izetbegovic. NATO came in on support for Al Qaeda in Libya. [removing unsubstantiated smear..mod]

So Lendman lies. It is not Syria today Iran tomorrow. NATO has no intention whatsoever to attack the Iranian Mullahs, who are the offspring of NATO. It is Israel the NATO Nazis are after following in the footsteps of the German Nazis.

NATO will protect the Iranian Mullahs. After all they protected Izetbegovic and they have been protecting extreme Sharia everywhere since (Ben Ali, Gaghbo, Mubarak, Gadhafi, now Assad)

No NATO is the enemy of above all the Jews and the enemy of Israel. NATO after all is the continuation of the German Nazis and the CIA was made up of the German Nazi Party, the Nazis becoming very central in the formation of the CIA, which directs NATO to this day.

NATO will protect the Iranian Sharia and will destroy Israel.

But not many Jews actually understand this. Like many other peoples they have been bought over by trash propaganda.

On Wednesday, the head of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, Navi Pillay, called on the international community to "take effective action" to stop the killing in Syria.
Pillay said there is no statute of limitations for serious international crimes. There is an "extreme urgency for the international community to cut through the politics and take effective action to protect the Syrian population," she added.

The US, NATO and the West manufactured Fatah, Hamas and the “Palestinians”

The “Palestinians were in every way a product of the British in that it was the British who created and protected the mass (Holocaust) killer of Jews in the Holocaust, Hajj Amin el Husseini.

This role of protecting these Arab Nazis was taken over by the US post 1945 when the US became the main protector and promoter of the “Palestinians”.

They were joined in this by Nazi heads of the UN, the most prominent being Kurt Waldheim (http://www.hirhome.com/israel/ford.htm) who was proved to be a member of the SS and who carried out war crimes in Yugoslavia.

Now head of the UN Navi Pillay is calling for the casting aside of the legal niceties of the UN, their own organization, and for the direct going to war without UN sanction.

This is a sign of the desperation of these ruling class circles.

What then if their baby the “Palestinians” rise up in Intifada against the Jews and the Jews retaliate in defence.

Then the precedent has been set, in Yugoslavia, in Libya and now in Syria.

Any Israeli Jew who does not oppose NATO and the UN in Syria needs to have his or her head examined. The dagger of the UN and of world anti-Semitism is pointing straight at the Jews (once more)

British and Qatari special operations units are operating with rebel forces under cover in the Syrian city of Homs just 162 kilometers from Damascus, according to debkafile’s exclusive military and intelligence sources. The foreign troops are not engaged in direct combat with the Syrian forces bombarding different parts of Syria's third largest city of 1.2 million. They are tactical advisers, manage rebel communications lines and relay their requests for arms, ammo, fighters and logistical aid to outside suppliers, mostly in Turkey.

late of this parish and a bona-fide supporter of Jewish National Socialism (Jewish NAZI-ism)?

one of the major giveaways is how he abuses the Holocaust to paint anyone opposed to the spread of Jewish Racial Supremacy, otherwise known as ';Zionism', as a NAZI?

He then conflates US war-like manouvers, in total conjunction with the wishes of Zionist Israel, as being a sign that NATO is a NAZI-like org (which it IS!) which wishes to wipe-out Zionist (NAZI-like) poor likkle Zionist Israel (which it doesn't, as anyone with even half a working brain-cell can see for themselves)

(with full Zionist Israeli co-operation, btw) to foist ** Whabbist Saudi-sponsered Jihadist Doctrine onto Muslim countries(the Muslim Brotherhood) - so that when theUS/UK/Israel decides to Gemocide them, the Western media can point at them and say "see?? it's andintractable RELIGIOUS problem . . . they are ALL Islamic Jihadist Fundamentalists!!! We simply HAD to annihalate them all.!!"

Felkix quigley - aka 'Stephen' , is here to muddy the waters - to pretend that there is some threat to Zionist Israel in all odf this, from the Whabbists - truth is that the Whabbists work willlingly hand-in hand FOR US/UK/Israel

They contract-out the need for so-called "Islamic" mercenaries to the Saudi's - who willingly comply, because they want to keep secure their income from the oilfields -

The US allows the Saudi Royal Family to continue doing this as long as the Saudi's are prepared to supply idiotic patsy's/mercenaries to further the Westeren propaganda that there are are thousends of nasty little Muslims out there juast waiting for a chance to attack the West

Contrary to what liars and foolls would have us believe regarding Assad and the people of Syria, a YouGov poll commissioned by the Qatar Foundation showed in early January that 55 per cent of Syrians do not want Assad to resign and 68 per cent of Syrians disapprove of the Arab League sanctions imposed on their country.

According to the poll, Assad’s support has effectively increased since the onset of current events – 46 per cent of Syrians felt Assad was a “good” president for Syria prior to current events in the country – something that certainly doesn’t fit with the false narrative being peddled.

"Most of the [Syrian] opposition’s more serious claims have turned out to be grossly exaggerated or simply untrue … revealing more about the opposition’s weaknesses than the level of instability inside the Syrian regime."

“CIA [Central Intelligence Agency] analysts are skeptical regarding the march to war. The frequently cited United Nations report that more than 3,500 civilians have been killed by Assad’s soldiers is based largely on rebel sources and is uncorroborated. The Agency has refused to sign off on the claims.

“Likewise, accounts of mass defections from the Syrian army and pitched battles between deserters and loyal soldiers appear to be a fabrication, with few defections being confirmed independently. Syrian government claims that it is being assaulted by rebels who are armed, trained and financed by foreign governments are more true than false.”

11h/ SIRTE - Yesterday night at 11h, NATO puppets killed a pregnant woman Fatima in #Sirte #Libya with a bullet, while she was on her way to Ibn Sina hospital to give a birth, accompanied by her husband. Citizents of Sirte are devastated by this crime

"Would that few misled fools that oppose the great Assad happen to be the same people murdered by his forces in the last week."

No they would be the foreign-armed gangs being encouraged by US propaganda trying to destabilise the assad regime and their unfortunate idealistic but brainwashed supporters.

I have no love for "Asshat". He's not particularly nice and is willing to kill a bunch of people to maintain power. But, ehh....if you think about it, thats really not much different to american leaders (*cough* Iraq *cough* Afghanistan *cough* drones) or for that matter pretty much every other powerful state leaders in the world.

But I think the meddlers should stay out because they are getting lots of people killed by cynically arming and encouraging them and pushing them into the line of fire against a well equipped strong man and his army.

And these "outsiders" really don't care who dies if they achieve their geopolitical goal here. in fact its better for them if it's women and children as they can pump that out and magnify that message through their media and so stir it all up even more.

The people of Syria are being used and duped by cynical imperialists with Iran being the ultimate prize

The people of Syria are being used and duped by cynical imperialists with Iran being the ultimate prize

I whole-heartedly agree with lefty. I haven't been in much of a position to contribute to the debate over the past week. The fact that the debate moved on to Syria is not at all off topic - the two are inter linked. Assad is a secular leader unlike Khameni but he will not bow down before imperialism. I dont like him either and would welcome his removal by a democratic opposition but thats not whats happening.

There are 2 oppositions in Syria:

1. Those who want a democratic Syria and who are negotiating with Assad. They oppose all outside intervention.

2. Those who want an Islamic state. They want to ethnically cleanse the Christians and Alawis. They want NATO to baptise their new state in blood.

Whats needed here is a United Front of all of those who defend a secvular independent Syria.

I was going to publish another Iran article here but it probably deserves a thread of its own.

"Both the present government and its predecessor misjudged the risk that arms approved for export to certain authoritarian countries in north Africa and the Middle East might be used for internal repression."

yeah right!

just shut up and stick your conservative millionaire heads back in the weapons profits trough. Clearly it aint concern over human rights that drives these scumbags.

A Kalashnikov in Iraq, until recently, sold for $100. Now it’s at least $1,000, and most probably $1,500 (those were the days when Sunnis joining the resistance in 2003 could buy a fake Kalashnikov made in Romenia for $20). Destination of choice of the $1,500 Kalashnikov in 2012: Syria. Network: al-Qaeda in the Land of the Two Rivers, also known as AQI.

Recipients: infiltrated jihadis operating side-by-side with the Free Syrian Army (FSA). Also shuttling between Syria and Iraq is car bombing and suicide bombing, as in two recent bombings in the suburbs of Damascus and the suicide bombing last Friday in Aleppo.

Who would have thought that what the House of Saud wants in Syria, an Islamist regime, is exactly what al-Qaeda wants in Syria?

Ayman al-Zawahiri, in an eight-minute video titled “Onwards, Lions of Syria”, has just called for the support of Muslims in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey to topple Bashar al-Assad’s “pernicious, cancerous regime”. They had been responding, in kind, even before he came into the picture. Not only those, but especially transplanted Libyan “freedom fighters”, formerly known as “rebels”.

Who would have thought that what NATO/GCC wants for Syria is exactly what al-Qaeda wants for Syria?

So when the Assad regime says it’s fighting “terrorists”, it’s not exactly bending the truth. Even that ubiquitous, proverbial entity, the unnamed US official, is blaming AQI for the recent bombings. Same for Iraq’s Deputy Interior Minister Adnan al-Assadi:

We have intelligence information that a number of Iraqi jihadists went to Syria.

So if Syria could not be the new Libya in the sense of a UNSCR authorizing NATO humanitarian bombing, Syria is a new Libya in the sense of unsavory ties between the “rebels” and hardcore Salafi-jihadis.

And as the West absolutely loves a win-win situation, no matter how prefabricated, that could also turn into the perfect Pentagon casus belli to intervene, as in freeing Syria from an “al-Qaeda” which was never there in the first place.

"What both the pro-intervention left and right share is the conviction that “we” (meaning the civilized democratic West) have the right and the ability to impose our will on other countries.

Certain French movements whose stock in trade is to denounce racism and colonialism have failed to remember that all colonial conquests were carried out against satraps, Indian princes and African kings who were denounced as autocrats (which they were) or to notice that there is something odd about French organizations deciding who are the “legitimate representatives” of the Libyan people."

On January 12, 2000 Indian intelligence officials in Calcutta detained 11 foreign nationals for interrogation before they were to board a Dhaka-bound Bangladesh Biman flight. They were detained on the suspicion of being hijackers. "But we realised that they were tabliqis (Islamic preachers), so we let them go," said an intelligence official. They had planned to attend an Islamic convention near Dhaka, but Bangladesh refused them visa. Later, seemingly under Israeli pressure, India allowed them to fly to Tel Aviv.

Where's the catch? The secret circular that warned of a possible hijack

"They had landing permits at Dhaka, but that's not visa," said a diplomat in the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi. "We decided not to entertain them anymore because we cannot take chances."

The eleven had Israeli passports but were believed to be Afghan nationals who had spent a while in Iran. They had secured landing permits for Dhaka and one-way tickets on Bangladesh Biman's Calcutta-Delhi route through a Delhi-based travel agency.

"We have a right to deny travel facility to a passenger even if he has a valid ticket on security grounds," said a Bangladeshi Biman official who did not want to be named. To the Bangladesh Biman officials the eleven, who were all Muslims, appeared "too murky".

Indian intelligence officials, too, were surprised by the nationality profile of the eleven. "They are surely Muslims; they say that they have been on tabligh (preaching Islam) in India for two months. But they are Israeli nationals from the West Bank," said a Central Intelligence official.

He claimed that Tel Aviv "exerted considerable pressure" on Delhi to secure their release. "It appeared that they could be working for a sensitive organisation in Israel and were on a mission to Bangladesh," the official said. The Israeli intelligence outfit, Mossad, is known to recruit Shia Muslims to penetrate Islamic radical networks.

"It is not unlikely for Mossad to recruit 11 Afghans in Iran and grant them Israeli citizenship to penetrate a network such as Bin Laden's. They would begin by infiltrating them into an Islamic radical group in an unlikely place like Bangladesh," said intelligence analyst Ashok Debbarma.

The pressure exerted on India by Israel for the release of the men, and the hurry with which they were flown back suggested an aborted operation'.

The official IRNA news agency said president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inserted the first rod into the reactor in northern Tehran, and state TV broadcast live images from the ceremony with Iranian nuclear experts briefing him on the process.

Get your shelters ready, when this religious zealot despot gets the bomb working western europeans can kiss our asses goodbye or start panic learning the koran!

It is perfectly legitimate to fear a nuclear powered Iran
At least Israel is holding fire with its nuclear weapons.
Who knows what nut-cases will control Iranian A-Bombs in the near future?
(Apart from the present nut-case)

Iran is compliant with the IAEA, and a long way from being weaponised. Israel is non-compliant, nuked to go with 300+ warheads dominating the region, has a record of sabotage and aggression, is in breach of more UN resolutions than the rest of the planet combined, is the reason Iran might be 'very fearful' and attempting to create a credible deterrent, and has not invaded its neighbours or initiated a war in centuries.

You are either both victims of the war propaganda of the real dangers(not just in the region, but to their own peoples)or part of the same program.

If you want to be serious, talk about the problem of MULTILATERAL disarmament, and ridding us all of these infernal and idiotic technologies and the mindsets driving the race to annihalation.

As for nut cases, that assessment remains in the eye of the beholder. I've been to Iran, and I've met a lot of yanks and Israelis over the years. being the nutter I am I tend to engage in political conversation. I've found the Iranians less prone to imbalance and propaganda-induced delusion than either the chauvenistic yanks or Israelis.

Its America who has cynically used these weapons for starters. And never expressed a trace of public remorse. If you define sanity as remotely in that region, join the line that says Bushmen. And I'm not referring to the Kalahari.

You are the one who should get a grip Opus.
Within 2 years of Chaimberlain waving a signed letter from Hitler in the air Hitler saying "There is peace in our time" Hitler was raining thousands of bombs on London.

Tell that to the half billion kids with the speculators bayonettes in their bellies since sub-prime, split derivative scam came to its natural conclusion and the mafia gamblers decided food futures was the new set of chips for their poker game with the worlds resources.

Or the recipients of depleted uranium for breakfast lunch and tea since the war economy notched into recovery from the same induced implosion.

Let me suggest a nice simple intro for you. Check out Michael Lewis's 'The Big Short', for the brains trust behind the sporting casino of Wall Street. Then go tell the queues at the soup-kitchens across America and in the growing Hoovertowns that thats not a bayonette in the belly, just a baseball of indigestion. Or the Greeks eating out of dustbins as their set of sporting con-men abscond to the dark Swiss 'heart of Europe' with their creamed wealth,where they were promised the same raft of jobs we were.

I take back what I wrote about hasbara, it does seem to be genuine naive worry. Dont stop worrying, just adjust your perspective to the real problem.

Derivatives are bullets,
and CDFs are bayonets.
All savoury and fillilng,
to the belly of the beast.
Debt is a noose
Banks the new tanks.
The planet the account,
that's overdrawn.
War the outcome of the roll of the dice.
Death the endgame.
We are fast approaching.
The Megamachine in overdrive
The Masculine triumph.
Death to all and
the devils' smiling.

I don't know what the big worry of "muslims getting nukes" is
Pakistan have had them for ages and their country is much more of a basket case than Iran. And they'd be a lot less so if US didn't bomb and destabilise their neighbouring country and launch lots of drone strikes in their soverign land.

remember that america is every bit as much of a fundamentalist religious state as any muslim country. Its absolutely full of nutcase fundamentalist christians. Should the people they elect have control over 7-10000 nukes? why isn't "worried" etc asking this question?

The real worry in terms of nukes is the country that has already shown a willingness and conviction to use them (and their allies)

only one country has used nukes. the good old USA. And they did it TWICE.

And they are contaminating countries with low grade depleted uranium every time they set their dogs loose.

And remember, it's election year. We might need another war to divert the american public from domestic financial robbery and corporate collusion.

I'm not afraid of "imadinnerjacket" with potentially one measly bomb eventually. But I'm very afraid of america with 7-10,000 and the idiocy/psycopathy/past record to use them. And I'm very afraid of aggressive/ religious nutjob Israel with 200+ of them

"Pardon my ageing memory, but I could have swore that Russia destabilized that neighbour years before the yankees decided to butt in."

Here is a rather revealing quote regarding the russian intervention:

In a 1998 interview[45] with the French newsmagazine Le Nouvel Observateur, Zbigniew Brzezinski was quoted as having said: "We didn't push the Russians to intervene, but we knowingly increased the probability that they would... That secret operation was an excellent idea. It had the effect of drawing the Soviets into the Afghan trap... The day that the Soviets officially crossed the border, I wrote to President Carter, "We now have the opportunity of giving to the Soviet Union its Vietnam War"

The US more or less admits deliberately suckering the russians into a resource draining trap. So they were largely behind that too

Adolf was a white racist, ultra(uber)nationalist, corporate stooge for the german war industrial expansion agains all things socialist, redistributive, or inclusively humanist, and a theoriser of elite pyramidic power. The lateral program of the hated 'reds', who won the war the West took credit for, was anathema to his creed. He also hoped to join the Brits and yanks in a global carve up of the resources of the untermenchen 'lesser races', and many of them were in favour.

I think the remark is fair. Or to quote your uncle george, 'you're either with us or against us.' You seem to be on the imperial side from your comments. Correct me if I wrong you.

Thanks for the quote from wikipedia Nukie, but it also ominously says further down the article (if you trust this source you quote) "Duma member Semyon Bagdasarov advocated that Russia had to reject Western calls for stronger assistance to the US-led ISAF-coalition in Afghanistan and also had to establish contacts with the "anti-Western forces" (i.e., the Taliban) in case they regain power.[146][147]" ..ie keep the pot boiling.

Don't mention it Sir Opus, I don't believe we ever had a George in the ancestry, Dinny, Jack, Paddy ok. My imperialism runs to being almost the owner of a modest 3 bed semi in the sticks. By the way I am an old timer semi-employed with a few brain cells left, been in the middle east too in my heyday have the arabic and hebrew T shirts!

My (own) opinion, we (Irish, Europeans) have more to fear from unstable Russian backed regimes that have or might get the bomb. The US won't let the Israelies unleash any they might have.

Pakistan is unlikely to ever let loose their weapons while India is the counter-balance.

"TEHRAN—Amidst mounting geopolitical tensions, Iranian officials said Wednesday they were increasingly concerned about the United States of America's uranium-enrichment program, fearing the Western nation may soon be capable of producing its 8,500th nuclear weapon.

"Our intelligence estimates indicate that, if it is allowed to progress with its aggressive nuclear program, the United States may soon possess its 8,500th atomic weapon capable of reaching Iran," said Iranian foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi, adding that Americans have the fuel, the facilities, and "everything they need" to manufacture even more weapons-grade fissile material.

"Obviously, the prospect of this happening is very distressing to Iran and all countries like Iran. After all, the United States is a volatile nation that's proven it needs little provocation to attack anyone anywhere in the world whom it perceives to be a threat." Iranian intelligence experts also warned of the very real, and very frightening, possibility of the U.S. providing weapons and resources to a rogue third-party state such as Israel."

and it would STILL have been far more accurate and, and more importantly, far more truthful than ANYTHING the MSM has ever published on the subject.

Equally it would STILL have been far more accurate and, and more importantly, far more truthful than ANYTHING the lying Pro-Zio-Nazi propagandist 'Meanwhile' has ever posted on any website, anywhere, in the history of the Inarwebz

"My imperialism runs to being almost the owner of a modest 3 bed semi in the sticks. By the way I am an old timer semi-employed with a few brain cells left, been in the middle east too in my heyday have the arabic and hebrew T shirts!"

Noted anti-Islamic hate-monger, forger and proven LIAR, Denis MacEoin - aka Daniel Easterman, purveyor of classic 'Class of Civilsations' racist Warmongering crap pro-Israeli pulp-fiction - aka 'Frank Adam' (a so called 'honest Man' - though why he feels the need to advertise his honesty is anyone's guess - In my experience it is only necessary to advertise something that is a sub-standard product in the first place.

I've consulted with the round table, and the consensus seems to be that its the Teuton/Frank financial empires are currently exporting our kids into sub-prime sweatshop bondage.
Not that our trans-ponder ancient friendly wuncha bankers have gone away either, as I'm sure you've noticed. Britannia is as helpful as ever.

Nor does the change of shirt of their rotatable gombeen viceroys fool all us plebs all the time. The BBC,(hotbed of raving reds)breaks down our debt as E104.5bn to the UK, E40bn to the US, Germany E82bn. Edna is away selling Oirlind Inc for any brass he can get as he repumps the septic tiger(When will they ever learn, you old enough to remember that one through your cloudy computing?).

But back on topic(dont want to draw the wrath of our resident wageslaves); my point being, why do you see a difference between the oligarchic devils we know and the Rusky gangstas?
Britrannia has unleashed more WASPish horror on the planet than Moscow ever did; from chemical and biological weapons to concentration camps to plantation/settlements, she invented every diabolical trick in the ever expanding tome of hominid criminality. She invented many of them on this island laboratory of imperial containment.
The US gave us the School of the Americas, napalm terror, Hiroshima....and whence the confidence they might restrain the outlaw apartheid Israel?They act in concert, even down to killing each others citizens when false-flag black ops are expedient. USS Liberty ring no bells from your eastward sojourn?Trusty Israel cloned our passports for its terrorist wet-ops, not perfidious Russia.

Also, if so called Russian backed regimes are unstable, its often because they are being destabilized by western money, puppets and special forces. You will be aware of the irony of the royal houses of the Arab League clients decrying the lack of democratic accountability in Syria. Saudi Arabia as paragon of democracy?Jordan?Tell me next Libya has been stabilized. The formula, as ever, is disrupt, contain, extract.

As for Pakistan(and I've been out that side too),quite aside from 'which Pakistan', as it fractures under US sponsorship, if they excercise their 'throw-weight' westward-ho, India will thank Shiva that Kali has been distracted and mind her own corporate business. States still do interests, rather than friendships. And if Pakistan were so foolish as to get embroiled, which I personally couldn't call, they will probably find a proxy terror unit in the many mercenary wings flourishing under the Project for a New American Century expanding New World Disorder.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday that Iran is enriching uranium in a peaceful nuclear program but that Tehran has not decided to develop an atomic bomb.

Top U.S. military and intelligence officials gave separate testimonies in congressional hearings on Thursday regarding Iran, and while they all reiterated the consensus that Iran’s nuclear program is purely civilian in nature, they also kept up the tough talk, hoping to satisfy hawks eager to preemptively strike Iran.”

There are additionally satellite pictures at the State Department's website allegedly showing "operational deployment" of Syrian artillery.

Analysis of the State Departments satellite pictures, which were promoted by news agencies and various papers, clearly shows that these pictures of artillery guns "operational deployed against XYZ" were all taken of guns training within military barracks or well known training areas and not in active deployment.

(A Google Earth KMZ file with the localities of the State Department pictures and the military areas marked is provided below.)

There is so far no proof that any artillery has been deployed at all though it is known that mortars have been used by the rebel side. The State Department obviously knows what the pictures really show but is trying to use the lie of artillery deployment against the rebels as a pressure argument for military intervention. . . . ."

AAA+++ reference site that one, mooned of alabama! Do you trawl the backwaters of the anarchist crackpot websites in your pathetic attempts to back up your nonsense.
Unfortunately it is true, Arab leaders and regimes CAN and DO murder their own people.
Why the looney left of this country want to deny this is flabbergasting.
Whereas when Israel bats an eyelid there's outrage, calls of shame shame and demonstrations at their embassy.
Some might think you were getting backhanders for this selective "Anti-War" propaganda

People like 'Meanwhile/Denis MacEoin' really hate being shown up for the liars and warmongers that they are.

Now a normal person, after being shown to be a purveyor of lies,forgeries etc, would probably realise that they are making a fool of themselves and just stfu for a while. Not so with the Zio-Racists like Denis, oh no. These sociopaths never know when to quit with the lies and the bullshit. the sequence of events often proceeds as follows

1) You posted something truthful - (Zio-Racists like Denis MacEoin really really HATE that. For them truth is like sunshine to a Vampire)

2) He replies
3) His reply consists mostly of a pathetic attempt to impugn the source
4) In his reply he almost compeltely ignores the content
5) In his reply he usually makes some reference to how terrible 'Arabs' are - Zio-racists hate everone not a Zio-racist - they tend to try to paint all Non-Zio-Racists as either 'Arabs', 'Anti-Semites', and when neither of those two might fly, then they usually settle for something mildly alliterative, which they like to think shows how clever they are, such as 'Loony Left'

Their main argument can often be reduced to something like "How DARE you accuse Israel of doing anything bad at all, when someone else somehwere else has done something equally as bad"

They never really get the counter-argument that just because a murderer exists somewhere else on the planet, it will never absolve Israel of it's Murders.

"Unfortunately it is true, Arab leaders and regimes CAN and DO murder their own people"

I'm sure they do Denis MacEoin (party to forgery and proven LIAR) but in this specific instance the so-called "evidence" put forward by the US State Dept, in an attempt to 'prove' that Syria was using artillery, is very obviously a complete fabrication.

Like that the Arab regimes murdering their own people are usually the clients installed by the resurgent imperial powers and doing their(and Israel's)bidding.

Or that when Israel 'bats an eyelid' its often the eyelid of a Palestinian kid in Gaza getting permanently closed with white phosphorous, or maybe a signal from a settler that they want another thousand acres of Palestinian olive groves for their illegal plantations, not unlike our old mates the Cromwellians and Elizabethans.

Or the backhander slur, where the facts are that anti-war activism is more likely to get you blacklisted from work, while pro-war activism has a raft of funders from BAe through Krupps and Raytheon to draw on; and the herds of journalistic cheerleaders in our media are the glaring proof.
When did anyone last see a letter or article re Shannon and the 'resource wars of the 21st century' in the press?
Or a query as to why a a so-called neutral country closes the Iranian embassy just when contact and dialogue are called for, but fetes every Israeli war-criminal that comes avisiting; despite their abuses of our passports and aid-shipping.

Or you could just ask what the fuck his motivation actually is for being anti Anti-War??

What exactly is it, Meanwhile, you find so orgiastic about modern industrialised extermination of civilian populations by remote control robotics and depleted(enhanced?)uranium from a safe and spineless distance??

I dont really worry about what mutable masks these homninid jellyfish cower behind, its the dissemination of their sick and psychopathic ideas needs treatment. And will for the foreseable future.

Everyone skips the question and bends the answers. (I never heard of this Denis guy before A Shithead mentioined him)

I couldn't really (like most Irish) give two shites about who kills who in the middle east.

But the far lefts refusal to admit that any glorious arabic regime might just be murdering their own people is now just comical.

The standard answer is just to change to topic to the US or Israel.

If this is the measure of the far left, then it is small wonder that yer such a major force in Irish politics (in your own minds and pubs).

I dont expect this post to be left up, or any condemnation of Syria in reply and I've much more important things to do (Celtic on telly, walk the dog, check my passport to make sure I'n not called Denis now)

Zionist-controlled Washington is absolutely, irrevocably, dangerously fixated on showing Iran who’s boss, and spends a good part of every day trying to tighten the screws around the Islamic Republic.

For the most part, the US’s pursuit of this dubious objective has instead stripped it of the vital political tools it once wielded.

No more UN Security Council resolutions, no more unscrutinized military adventures.

The only thing left is the nefarious tentacles of the United States Department of Treasury and its financial weapons.

“The new tools of imperialism,” as once US-friendly central banker in the Mideast bluntly put it to me.

"I only hear shrill desperation when politicos now parrot the “sanctions are biting” line. Here’s a juicy tidbit for those rolling their eyes right now: Goldman Sachs – America’s premier investment bank and Wall-Street God – has identified the Islamic Republic as one of the “Next 11” growth drivers of the global economy after the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) nations. BRIC was a term coined by Goldman Sachs, if you recall, and boy, were they right about that one.

Thirty years of “biting” sanctions and sanctions “with teeth” have achieved the following: “Strong or improving growth conditions,” said Goldman Sachs just last year, “combined with favorable demographics, form the foundation of the N-11 growth story.” The investment bank, furthermore, estimates “a measurable increase in the N-11’s share of global GDP, from roughly 12% in the current decade to 17% in 2040-2049.”

It’s a bad global economy we are facing right now, but Goldman Sachs’ charts illustrate that Iran is still one of five nations in the N-11 pot whose “productivity and sustainability of growth” is above average.

Iran and India have agreed to settle part of their annual USD 12-billion oil trade in rupees as a means of circumventing new US sanctions against Iran's oil and financial sectors.

Shrugging off Dollar Dominance

A British investment research firm wrote in January: “Sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran effectively restricts Iranian oil sales to barter contracts or to state-to-state agreements utilizing non-G8 currencies…It represents a major irritation to the Iranians, rather than a chokehold.”

The authors specify the Chinese Yuan as the non-G8 currency, but in the past few days that scenario has busted open with the addition of the Indian Rupee into the mix.

The new trade deal inked between Iran and India ensures Rupee payment for 45% of Iranian oil imports, with the balance remaining in Indian banks to pay for exports to the Islamic Republic. This achieves two important things that are an unintended consequence of US sanctions: firstly, it eliminates the Dollar as the trading currency (note that oil prices have traditionally been priced in US Dollars); secondly, it significantly accelerates economic integration between Iran and one of the four largest emerging economies in the world.

D.S. Rawat, head of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry in India, says of the agreement: “The potential of trade and economic relations between the two countries can touch the level of $30 billion by 2015 from the current level of $13.7 billion dollars in 2010-11.”

There’s more. During the course of the past two weeks, Iran has purchased around 1.1 million tons of cereals and wheat from international markets – including products originating in Germany, Canada, Brazil and Australia – which it has paid for entirely in currencies other than the Dollar.

The US Dollar, which has been the international reserve currency for close to a century, is on its way out anyway. America’s huge balance of payments deficit has weakened US fundamentals and made investors wary. The downside of the Dollar’s changing status is that the Federal Reserve loses a lot of flexibility in managing its currency and the US economy. That does not bode well for keeping the US competitive against the BRIC nations and other emerging economies

Denis MacEoin:"But the far lefts refusal to admit that any glorious arabic regime might just be murdering their own people is now just comical. "

but you see, Deni, we're not talking about just "any glorious arabic regime " - we're talking about Syria, right now.

And ALL the reliable evidence appears to show that not only are the Syrian Gov't NOT targeting 'civilians', the people they are targeting are financed and armed by the US/UK/Israel/Saudi axis-of-Terror and that judged on their actions thus far, the people that the Syrian Gov't are targeting pose a far far greater threat to civilian life in Syria than the Syrian Gov't does

All your claims of civilian deaths stem exclusively from the London and France etc based (and financed) "oppositition" whose spokesperson's statements have been reproduced verbatim by the stenographic Westerm propaganda Machine known as the MSM, and whose claims have been conclusively, and authoritatively described as 'lies' by the Arab League monitor's official report.

The Arab League Monitors went to the sites where the US/UK/Israeli/Saudi financed Murder gangs claimed there were Syrian Gov't massacres. They generally found no evidence that what the US/UK/Israeli/Saudi financed Murder gangs claimed to have happened ever happened. this proves that the US/UK/Israeli/Saudi financed Murder gangs are not to be trusted

The Western Propaganda machine reported on these non-existant 'massacres' nevertheless. They are STILL reporting (probable) non-existant 'massacres'

This is why the UN, just like all the Zio-racist warmnongers commenting in this thread (Meanwhile/Denis MAcEoin fer instance), never even bothered to address the report.

The UN and the MSM made a big old hullaballoo about the Arab League Moniutors going into Syria - but when the Monitors produced a report that was 180-degrees at odds with the Zionist-supporting propaganda put out by the UK/US and other western powers, then the UK/US/Israeli/Saudi Axis-of-Teorror wanted nothing to do with it.

The are numerous excerpts from the report itsself posted in this very thread - you, Meanwhile/Denis MacEoin, and all your fellow war-mongering Zio-racists have completely refused to address any and all of the points made relating to the contents of that report - all the while accusing others of ignoring the so-called 'truth' regarding Syria

There's numerous words and colourful expressions for descibing your actions in this regard,
Denis - 'Hypocrisy' is one word - 'Lying-through-your-blood-thirsty-warmongering-racist-teeth' is also an apt expression, IMHO, to describe you and your fellow racist warmongers, Denis.

Denis MacEoin:"I couldn't really (like most Irish) give two shites about who kills who in the middle east."

Yeah. ye keep saying that, I notice - yet here you still are, over a week later after saying it for the first time, still rather loudly and very shrilly 'not giving a shit'.

Tsk tsk, Denis. it seems you can't even be honest about that much, now can you?

For a chap that claims not to give a shit you sure spend a lot of time here arguing against what is plainly obvious to any intelligent person. Are YOU sure YOU are not getting paid for it, Denis? cos your behaviour would suggest otherwise

"The standard answer is just to change to topic to the US or Israel."

No Denis- that is YOUR standard tactic. I've pretty much stuck to the subject of Syria and recent events there - in fact the plethora of Syria/Arab League Monitors report related posts I have made here pretty much conclusively shows you are, once again! lying through your teeth.

That I have pointed the finger at those responsible for financing these Murder-gangs is but a consequence of having actually looked into who is behind these Murder-gangs - as I told you earlier (when you were posting under the name 'Culchie') "I just followed the trail where it lead Culchie - If it had not lead right back to a bunch of [Pro-]Zionist Racists then I could not have said it does, now could I? . . .
(well, I suppose I could have said it were so without any evidence of it, if like you and freeman I were prepared to go out on t'Internet and spread a load of lies, but unlike you and Freeman I'm not very partial to telling lies.)"

I've posted some form of evidence for EVERYTHING I have said here - as usual you and your lying fellow Zio-racists have posted nothing but completely unfounded BULLSHIT and lies - almost all of which are contradicted by actual facts (posted by me, mostly ;-)

This is your consistent Modus Operandi, Meanwhile - this is how one easily recognises you for what you are - a Zio-racist hate-spreading Lying sociopathic Warmonger (or 'Denis MacEoin' for short ;-)

"Meanwhile, the British and American governments -- which have supplied the Bahraini autocracy with tear gas, small arms ammunition, stun grenades and smoke canisters -- continue to look the other way and instead agitate for military action against Libya."

And Iran, and Syria; plus, in the longer term Russia and China as well it would appear, judging by the MASSIVE build-up of US thermonuclear-armed military warships which continues to take place in and around parts of the Middle East and Northern Australia.